A life changing and eye-opening experience Past Review
By Stephanie Lin (McMaster University) - abroad from 08/03/2017 to 08/12/2017 with
The GREEN Program: Japan - Disaster Mitigation and Nuclear to Renewable Transitions
I gained insight about nuclear energy, the damage that was done during the Fukushima incident, and the efforts that have been made to clean-up the remains from the incident. I also gained an appreciation for Japanese culture and their lifestyle. This program was absolutely worthwhile and I would strongly recommend this program.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The instructors and tour guides were very knowledgeable and did a great job of passing that knowledge down to myself and the other students. There was a variety of teaching styles, ranging from lectures to on-site tours. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration of the program were very professional, but also fun. They made the whole trip very enjoyable, whether we were learning something during lectures or experiencing Japanese culture. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
We stayed at a ryokan for most of the trip and I loved it! It felt like a home away from home. The staff members were very kind and helped us with anything we needed help with. The ryokan was also situated near various stores and had beautiful scenery around it. |
| * Food: |
Each morning we would be greeted with a delicious Japanese-style breakfast. For lunch and dinner, we would be supplied with various types of Japanese foods (ranging from sandwiches to curry rice) or we would go to a local restaurant. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
There were many opportunities to learn about the Japanese culture that occurred on an almost daily basis. Whether it be by making Soba, discovering the different areas of the prefecture or enjoying a tea ceremony, each opportunity was unique, memorable, and enjoyable. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
The stereotypes of Japan being a very safe place to be are completely true. I never once felt in danger and I had no problems traveling anywhere during the daytime nor nighttime. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Japan isn't super expensive so there's no need to bring large amounts of money! |
